From X-bit Labs: Advanced Micro Devices, the world’s second largest maker of x86 microprocessors, plans to introduce its new high-performance quad-core microprocessors in August. The most important updates will be AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition, the new top-of-the-range desktop chip by AMD, as well as AMD Athlon II X4 630, the first quad-core Athlon processor that is aimed at mainstream market.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Processor will be clocked at 3.40GHz and will feature 2MB L2 cache (512KB per core), 6MB L3 unified cache, integrated dual-channel DDR2/DDR3 memory controller and will support all the latest technologies found in AMD processors. The chip will be in AM3 form-factor, hence, will be able to work in both AM3 and AM2+ platforms that support 125W thermal design power. The new processor will boost performance of AMD’s high-end quad-core chips ahead of the back-to-school season, which will improve competitiveness of AMD’s desktop family of chips. Sources familiar with AMD’s plans said that the company plans to formally unveil the chip on the 13th of August, 2009.

AMD Athlon II X4 630 based on the code-named Propus core will be the first quad-core chip carrying Athlon brand and will also be the first quad-core processor from AMD aimed at mainstream product segment. AMD Athlon II X4 630 clocked at 2.80GHz will feature dual-channel DDR2/DDR3 memory controller (depending on platform) and 2MB L2 cache (512KB per core), but will lack L3 cache. Relatively low clock-speed as well as the lack of third-level cache will make the new chip rather economical in terms of power: TDP of the new processor is 65W. AMD is projected to release the Athlon X4 630 on the 23rd of August, 2009, along with its new AMD 785G core-logic with integrated graphics. Later this Fall AMD also plans to release Athlon II X4 models 600e (2.20GHz), 605e (2.30GHz) and 620 (2.60GHz) to address different market segments.

Sunnyvale, California-based AMD also plans to launch new triple-core Athlon II X3 central processing units sometimes in September or October to complete its new lineup of chips made using 45nm process technology that is aimed at mainstream and entry-level price-segments.

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From InfoWorld: Just hours before Microsoft plans to launch Office 2010, a build that may be the first public preview of the suite leaked to the Internet, searches showed late Sunday.

A new version of Office 2010, build 14.0.4302.1000, appeared on several BitTorrent tracking sites Sunday, including Mininova.org. Both the 32- and 64-bit editions leaked to file-sharing sites.

As of midnight ET, the 32-bit version showed about 30 "seeders" -- the term for a computer that has a complete copy of the torrent file -- and about 400 "leechers," or computers that have downloaded only part of the complete torrent. Approximately 1,200 copies of the file had been downloaded.

Office 2010 has leaked before. In May, a week after Microsoft announced that it would issue the Technical Preview this summer, an early edition showed up on BitTorrent.

According to multiple reports last week, Microsoft will kick off its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) Monday morning by announcing it's ready to distribute Office 2010's invite-only preview, and by demonstrating Office Web -- lightweight, online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

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From PC World: Microsoft plans to use Windows Embedded to combat rival operating systems in smartbooks and a number of other devices meant to always be connected to the Internet that Microsoft calls CIDs, or consumer Internet devices.

Smartbooks are mini-laptops similar to netbooks, with 10-inch screens and full keyboards. But they use different components, including processors from Arm Holdings, which give them far longer battery life than netbooks. The kicker is that while Windows 7 will work in netbooks, Microsoft is offering Windows Embedded for smartbooks, potentially giving rival Google a chance to shine in this product segment with the new Chrome OS.

It appears that not everyone is satisfied with Microsoft's OS plan for small devices.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, started building its own operating system for small handheld computers and mini-laptops in 2007, the Linux-based Moblin OS 2007, a project it still backs even though it's turned over development to the Linux Foundation for further development. The chip maker is trying to sell its Atom microprocessors in more small devices and wants to make sure people have a good experience with software on these devices.

Kevin Dallas, the general manager of Microsoft's Windows Embedded business, discussed Microsoft's strategies for smartbooks and other devices, such as the company's Haiku concept device, in an e-mail interview with IDG News Service. What follows is an edited transcript of that exchange:

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From DailyTech: Google CEO Eric Schmidt is no stranger to controversy. Heading the world's most powerful internet corporation, he has taken on everyone from Bill Gates to newspaper moguls without breaking a sweat.

However, Mr. Schmidt has his hands full currently with criticism about the fact that he holds a position on Apple's board of directors. As a major Apple investor, Mr. Schmidt seems a natural fit for the board. However, Google competes with Apple in several markets already including the browser (Google's Chrome challenges Apple's Safari 4) and the smart phone market (Android OS phones like the G1 challenge Apple's iPhone). The board position would also require Mr. Schmidt to help direct Apple's business which is a possible illegal conflict of interest.

Now with Google set to challenge Apple in yet another market -- the OS business. Google is looking to challenge Microsoft's Windows and Apple's OS X by making an operating system of its own: Chrome OS. The move, announced earlier this week, made headlines as many hope that Google's user friendly applications will translate into an operating system that is more user friendly and open that Apple or Microsoft's offerings.

Under investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Mr. Schmidt revealed that for now, things seem to be OK with Apple. He told Reuters, "I'll talk to the Apple people. At the moment, there's no issue."

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From DailyTech: In the consumer sector Windows 7 looks set for success. With fast-paced pre-order sales in the U.S. wrapped up, the OS looks to storm onto desktops and laptops everywhere this fall (October 22, to be precise).

In the business sector, though, the usual reluctance to adopt a new Windows operating system is still in full effect. A study earlier this year showed that 83 percent of business administrators planned not to adopt Windows 7 within the first year of release. Now a new, larger study offers new predictions for Windows 7's fate on the business market.

Conducted by Scriptlogic, the study received responses from approximately 20,000 IT administrators at over 1,000 major companies. The study shows that the numbers have actually improved for Microsoft -- 34 percent of companies plan on adopting Windows 7 by the end of 2010, up from the 17 percent in the previous study, which looked at adoption through the end of October 2010 (a two month difference).

However, there's also the bad for Microsoft -- only 5.4 percent of companies plan to adopt the OS this year. Furthermore, 59.4 percent of the administrators stated that their company had no plans to adopt Windows 7.

The economy is the biggest factor slowing adoption, with 42.7 percent citing time and resources as a reason not to deploy. The next biggest factors are application compatibility (39.1%), OS deployment (8.4%), hardware support (7.5%) and migrating user settings (2.2%).

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If you live in North America, you may remember the recent Gatorade commercial "What's G?". Well, that seems like the perfect phrase for what we're going to be taking a look at today; none other than the Thermaltake's newest gaming chassis, the Element G. The newly released Element G is one of three cases as a part of Thermaltake's Element Series -- along with its big brother the Element S, and its little brother, the Element T. Labeled with the tag line "Create for Pros", the Element G is a mid-tower chassis designed with the computer gamer in mind. In the highly competitive gaming chassis market, a case needs to be both aesthetically pleasing without having an overly tacky appearance, and at the same time excelling with regards to functionality. Will the Element G give us enthusiasts exactly what we've been looking for? Or will more proven cases such as the Antec Nine Hundred Two and CoolerMaster HAF 932 be better alternatives? Featuring three multi-color LED fans, 2.5" drive mounting for drives such as SSDs, and a lower PSU chamber for better thermal management, the Element G definitely sounds like feature packed chassis designed for an enthusiast system on paper. Today, we'll be the ones to examine thoroughly whether or not it is truly worthy of the tag line "Create for Pros". Read on to find out if the Element G is really worth your money.

View: Thermaltake Element G Review

The word 'lite' always had a negative connotation as a toned-down item or a lower end product. Some of us may even associate the 'cheap' with the word 'lite'. Even so, there has always been a need for value products in every market; as many people would prefer not to spend so maximum money on everything they buy. Especially in such tough economic times, there would be an increase of people who choose to spend wisely and efficiently to make the best out of their money. For Thermaltake, "Lite" also has another meaning. The company's Litepower series power supplies are also marketed as energy efficient and "green". Interestingly, APH haven't reported on a power supply for about a year already, and we are getting back into it now! Today, we will be taking a look at the Thermaltake Litepower 450W -- a budget line of power supplies by the well known manufacturer of cooling products, Thermaltake. We'll also crack open this power supply to see what is the symbolic significance of 'lite' means to Thermaltake when they designed and manufactured our Thermaltake Litepower 450W power supply.

View: Thermaltake Litepower 450W Report